Apple TV+ Flora and Son (2023)

[Jake Lipson]

Title: Flora and Son (2023)

Tagline: Talent is relative.

Genre: Music, Comedy, Drama

Director: John Carney

Cast: Eve Hewson, Orén Kinlan, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jack Reynor, Marcella Plunkett, Paul Reid, Don Wycherley, Amy Huberman, Callan Cummins, Sophie Vavasseur, Margarita Murphy, Alex Deegan, Harvey Hutchinson, Melissa Morefield, Keith McErlean, Stephen Ryan, Ali Fox, Ruairí Heading, Ellie O'Halloran, Dylan Kelly, Ailbhe Cowley, Marcus Lamb, Aislín McGuckin, Jessica Freed, Colman Hayes, Stephen Jones, Aaron Delaney, Jedidjah Rondala, Kelly Thornton, Joni Mitchell, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan

Release: 2023-09-21

Runtime: 97

Plot: Single mum Flora is at a loss about what to do with her rebellious teenage son, Max. Her efforts to keep him out of trouble lead to a beat-up acoustic guitar, a washed-up LA musician, and harmony for this frayed Dublin family.

 

[Jake Lipson]

Flora and Son is the new film from director John Carney, who is known for Once and Sing Street. It's now on Apple TV+.

Has anyone watched it yet?

 

[David Deeb]

I plan to this week. Good reviews and Sing Street is A+ fantastic. This seem similar.

 

[Mike2001]

I haven’t seen Sing Street but I adored Once. I’ll probably try to make time for Flora and Son this week.

 

[Bernard McNair]

We watched Flora and Son this evening and thoroughly enjoyed it. Eve Hewson is an excellent screen presence in a well written and directed film that speaks to the redemption of music. This charming film is another winner from John Carney. I would rate it at 7.5/10.

 

[JoeStemme]

Irish Writer-Director John Carney specializes in music-based movies (ONCE, SING STREET), so it's no surprise that his latest, FLORA AND SON, has a similar theme.

A foul-mouthed single mom, Flora (a sprightly Eve Hewson), lives in a tiny Dublin flat with her equally malcontent child, the troubled Max (Orén Kinlan). The boys father, Ian (Jack Reynor) is in and out of the family picture. Through happenstance, Flora comes to acquire an acoustic guitar and encourages her son to pick up the instrument, but he's far more interested in electronic music.

Instead of chucking it, Flora begins taking online private lessons from a handsome overseas musician, Jeff (Joseph Gordon-Levitt at his most engaging). A good part of the movie is just Flora and Jeff exchanging online. Carney finds a way to open things up so that it's not all just laptop screen shots, fostering more immediacy, not to mention emphasizing their growing emotional bond.

FLORA AND SON is well-acted and some of the original music plays well on screen. Carney's script is a bit bumpy at times as it tries to work out the various relationships. It has a sweet core to it, and a cheeky wit that makes it an enjoyable little tune.

P.S. Listen carefully to the last line delivered as the movie fades to the credits for one last laugh. Anyone catch it???